Oyster packing apparatus



Feb. 27, 1934.

E. T. M NANEY OYSTER PACKING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet l lllllllllllllfllIIHIHHHIHHHHHIII IIIIIIHIHHIHIIMIIllllllllllllllllfl Edward E". lycNd 2153/ Feb. 27, 1934. T MCNANEY 1,949,170

OYSTER PACKING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21. 1930 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 EEgNZE. 51W

Feb. 27, 1934. E. T. M NANEY 1,949,170

OYSTER PACKING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21. 1950 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fei'o. 27, 1934. E, MCNANEY 1,949,170

OYSTER PACKING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21, 1930 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 u n nn n u Feb. 27, 1934. E, MCNANEY 1,949,170

OYSTER PACKING APPARATUS l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 Edward 73 135m r1 @WZ WM Feb. 27, 1934. E. T. MONANEY 1,949,170

OYSTER PACKING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21. 1930 10 Sheets-Sheet 7 /3 131 m0 gm Feb. 27, 1934. MCNANEY 1,949,170

OYSTER PACKING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21. 1930 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 Feb. 27,1934 5, MCNANEY 1,949,170

OYSTER PACK ING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21. 1930 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 gmmm'z 1 Edward ZydV/ang Feb. 27, 1934. T MCNANEY 1,949,170

OYS TER PACKING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 21. 1930 l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 E dward T McNarzEi/ Fatenied Feb. 27, 1934 NEED STATES FFiCE Application February 21,

Claims.

This invention relates to a complete apparatus for washing, draining and measuring oysters.

My oyster cleaning machine, as embodied in application bearing Serial No. 280,209, filed May 24, 1928, is utilized in part, but only forms one of the steps that I have found necessary in properly marketing shucked oysters.

I have found that to properly market oysters, it is necessary to wash the same after they have been removed from the shells in order to get rid of the sand and grit which is present. Since the oysters are surrounded with considerable liquid when in the shell, liquid accumulates during the foregoing process, which becomes a part of the water during the washing step. Since the public purchases oysters mainly in bulk, and in View of statutes which require that oysters be so sold, it is next necessary to drain the oysters to remove the surplus water and liquid which is left from the washing.

Where oysters are sold on a large scale, it requires a great deal of time to properly measure and pack the same in cans, or other containers, and where it is done by hand, there is always the human unsanitary element present.

The primary object is to combine all of these steps in a single machine, wherein the oysters will be automatically washed, drained and packed in a continuous succession of steps.

Another object is to control the amount of oysters fed into the washer so that the correct amount will always be fed into containers in the filling machine.

Still another object is to provide means operated by the same power for feeding cans or containers beneath the filling apparatus, so that there will be a continuous filling and feeding of cans as long as oysters are fed into the washing machine, and in turn, through the draining and filling apparatus.

Still another object is to provide means for automatically stopping the feeding apparatus used for the oysters upon the exhausting of the sup ply of cans, or upon an insufficient amount or overage of oysters being present.

Another object is to provide a measuring devi e in conjunction with the washer and drainer that will accurately measure the desired amount of oysters and deposit the same in cans or con tainers.

Other objects will be disclosed in the specification and in the drawings forming a part of this application.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an assembly view in top plan of 1930. Serial No. 430,335

my improved system for washing, draining and depositing oysters into cans;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the can filling device showing one position of the same;

Figure 4 is a similar view with the hopper removed and showing another position of the machine;

Figure 5 is still another perspective of the same and including the can rack;

Figure 6 is a top plan of the filling machine with the hopper in cross section;

Figure 7 is an elevation of the filling machine from the can entering end;

Figure 8 is a vertical section on the line 8-8 of Figure 7, showing the measuring cylinder in raised position;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the primary drive motor and the reducing gear;

Figure 10 is a vertical section on the line 10-10 of Figure 6;

Figure 11 is a similar view showing another position of the measuring cylinder;

Figure 12 is a horizontal section on the line 12-12 of Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a horizontal section on the line 13-13 of Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a horizontal section on the line 14-14 of Figure 10;

Figure 15 is a vertical detailed section on the line 15-15 of Figure 14;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary side elevation of Figure 15;

Figure 17 is a horizontal section on the line 17-17 of Figure 18;

Figure 18 is a vertical section on the line 18-18 of Figure 17;

Figure 19 is a vertical section on the line 19-19 of Figure 17;

Figure 20 is a fragmentary perspective of part of the can feeder rack;

Figure 21 is a vertical section on the line 21-21 of Figure 8;

Figure 22 is a vertical section on the line 22-22 of Figure 21;

Figure 23 is a horizontal section on the line 23-23 of Figure 22;

Figure 24 is a perspective of one of the devices which support the cylinder drive gear;

Figure 25 is a vertical section on the line 25-25 of Figure 12;

Figure 26 is a veitical section on the line 26-26 of Figure 8;

Figure 2'? is a vertical section on the line 27-27 of Figure 26;

Figure 28 is a perspective view of the filling machine similar to Figure 5;

Figure 29 is a vertical section on the line 2929 of Figure 6;

Figure 30 is a horizontal section on the line 30-30 of Figure 29; showing a different position of the cans;

Figure 31 is a fragmentary perspective showing the cans entering the filling machine;

Figure 32 is a vertical section on the line 3232 of Figure 2, and including a wiring diagram to illustrate the use f the safety float switches;

Figure 33 is a fragmentary side elevation of the parts disposed below the drainer adjacent the washer;

Figure 34 is a vertical section on the line 34-34 of Figure 33;

Figure 35 is a fragmentary side elevation showing parts of the hopper and cylinder to illustrate the use of the safety latch which looks the discharge door of the cylinder until the latch is released, as shown;

Figure 36 is similar to Figure 85, but shows the safety latch in locked position;

Figure 3"! is a fragmentary side elevation of the measuring cylinder showing a modified construction to open and close the discharge door;

Figure 38 is a horizontal section on the line 38--3 of Figure 37.

Figure 39 is vertical section on line 39-39 of Figure 1.

Figure 40 is a sectional elevation of the washer and scoop; and

Figure .1 illustrates an end View of Figure 4G.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar parts are designated by like numerals:

Numeral 40 designates a washer adapted to receive through chute 41 a quantity of liquid oysters discharged from a feeding device 22. The oysters upon being received in the washer are carried by of conveyor blades 43 to the forward end of the washer 40 where they are received into the discharge head 44.

During the normal operation of the washer 40, the discharge head 44 is carried above the level of the washer and automatically discharges the oysters into a chute 45, as described in my copending application, Serial No. 280,209, filed May 24, 1928.

The oysters upon leaving the chute 45 are received into a drain table 46 which is adapted to separate the excess water from the bulk of the oysters and automatically discharge the bulk into the hopper 47 of a filling machine, which deposits the oysters into empty cans arranged below the said filling machine, as will hereinafter be more fully described.

I is desired to provide a complete system for handling the oysters from the time they are shucked until the time they are deposited into the cans, and my improved system provides for the combination of units as shown in Figures 1 and 2. A motor 48 is supported adjacent the can entering end of the filling machine upon a bracket as and is provided, as shown in Figure 9, with a worm 49 adapted to mesh with a reducing gear 56 carried by the main drive shaft 51, winch is supported upon bearings 52, the said shaft 51 extending across the filling machine at right angles to the path of travel of the empty cans.

The shaft 51 is extended beyond one edge of the filling machine and provided with a sprocket wheel 53 and connected to a similar sprocket wheel 54 by a chain 55, the said sprocket 54 being carried by the shaft 56 of the washer 40.

From the foregoing it may be seen that the motor 48 is adapted to drive the washer 4.0 and by means of bevel gear 57, carried by one end of the shaft 56, and a similar bevel gear 58, carried by the vertical shaft of the drainer 46, it may also drive the drainer 46.

The shaft 56 of the washer extends through the wall adjacent the feeding device 42 and provided with a sprocket 59 to be connected by means or" chain 60 to a similar sprocket 61 carried by a shaft 62 at the rear end of a ber 63 of the feeding device as. The shaft 62 is provided at its opposite end with another rocket 64 similar to sprocket 61 and connected by a chain 65 to a sprocket 66 similar to sprocket 59 and positioned in alignment with the same, for a purpose to be hereinafter more fully described.

From the foregoing, it may be seen that motor 48 is utilized to provide a driving for the complete combination of units composed of the feeding unit 42, the washer 40, the drainer a6 and th filling machine. Suitable means have been provided to take care of the suspension and exposure of the oysters which may at infrequent intervals occur in the washer, that is, at times the discharge head may come to a stop in the position shown Figure 32, which is just before the discharge position has been reached. In this position, the discharge head 4 may be filled with oysters and since it is highly desiraoie that some means be provided for continuing the movement of the discharge head at to insure that the oysters will be discharged instead of by suitable wiring to a motor 76, supported adjacent the cam 57. Between the cam 67 and the washer 40, the shaft 56 is provided with a ratchet wheel 71, fixedly secured to said shaft, and adapted to normally overrun the pawl '72 of a gear '73 carried freely by the shaft 56 adjacent the ratchet 71.

The motor 70 is provided with a gear '74 normally in mesh with gear 73. When the discharge head 44 stops in the position shown in Figure 32, the roller 68 is positioned in the depressed portion of the cam 67 to close a circuit through the battery in order to energize the motor 70. The gear 74 being in mesh with gear 73, will drive the same, and the pawl 72, carried by gear '73, will drive ratchet '71 to rotate the shaft 56 and carry the discharge head 4 into a discharge position, thereby preventing the discharge head 44 from being left in a stationary position when there are oysters within it.

It is also desired to provide suitable means disposed within the hoppers '76 and '77 of the feeding device 42 and the filling machine 17 to insure that these devices will operate so long as a predetermined quantity of oysters shall be therein; however, should the quantity of oysters be more 01' less than the predetermined quantity decided upon, suitable means are provided to stop the operation of the said devices until this con dition has been corrected.

As shown in the diagram of Figure 32, the float ment of the measuring device, the oysters which drop into the measuring cylinder 108 are prevented from being discharged.

As shown in Figures 12, 35 and 36, the hinge pin 1 2 of the closure gate 121 is provided at its end, opposite from the arm 123, with a similar arm 130 having a striking pin 131. A safety latch arm 132 is pivotally secured at 133 to the frame member 99 and is provided at the lower end with a hook portion 134, adapted to be held in locked engagement with the striking pin 131 by means of a spring 135, secured to the upper end of the safety latch 132, and to the supporting clip 114. A bumper plate 136 is secured to the cross head 13'? which connects the guide standards 93 and is disposed within the path of the safety latch 130 in order that immediately prior to the engagement of the striking pin 129 with the striking plate 126 to open the closure gate 121, the upper bevel edge of the safety latch 132 may engage the bevel edge of the bumper plate so that the safety latch may be caused to rock upon the pivot 133 and release the str king pin 131. Thus it may be s en that a safety latch mechanism has been provided which will insure the closure 01" the lower end of the measuring cylinder 108 and will be disengaged prior to the action of the striking plate 126 upon the pin 129 to open the said closure gate 121.

I have now described how a suitable quantity of bulk oysters may be received into a measuring device and at the proper time discharged therefrom, and I will now describe the novel means which I have devised to insure that a continuous succession of cans may be fed into filling position beneath the said measuring device.

As shown in Figures 7 and 8 one of the wrist pins 181 is provided with downwardly extending rods 138 suitably guided by guide member 139 and having at its lower end a vertical driving gear rack 138 to be normally in mesh with a gear 140 carried by a horizontal shaft 141 disposed transversely of the frame 142 of the can filling machine near its lower portion thereof, the purpose of which will now be described.

The filling machine frame 142 is provided centrally with an open section to receive a can supporting rack composed of parallel spaced angle irons 143 extending beyond the machine forwardly to the point where the filled cans are removed, and rearwardly to the lower end of the can feeding chute 90, which may normally feed by gravity, a continuous supply of cans to the rear end of the angle iron members 143.

It is now desired to provide a novel means by which the empty cans may be successively fed into position beneath the discharge gate 121 of the measuring device at the time of discharge; and to this end I have provided a novel can conveyor rack 144.

The can conveyor rack 144 is disposed in parallel relation to the angle irons 143 slightly within and below the same, and consists of a pair of tracks 145, 146, each being composed of a pair of parallel strips. The tracks 145 and 146 are constructed so as to leave a space between the parallel strips by means of suitable spacers 147, and at regular intervals are provided with pivoted conveyor pawls 148, limited in one direction by stop pins 149.

The tracks 145 and 146 are connected by transverse arms 149, to which are connected centrally and in parallel relation to said tracks, a horizontal rack gear member 150 adapted to engage a gear 151, carried by the shaft 141, centrally thereof, and fixedly secured thereto, to be rotated in unison with the gear 140.

It may now be seen that upon the down stroke of the measuring cylinder 108, to a point where the upper surface of the cylinder is flush with the lowest portion of the hopper '77, as shown in Figure 10, the cylinder becomes filled with oysters, and upon this downward movement, the rack gear 138 carried by the rods 138 engages the gear 140 and through the medium of ear 151 fixed to the shaft 141 the horizontal rack gear 150 attached to the can conveyor rack 144 will be caused to move rearwardly toward the can feeding chute 96.

The conveyor pawls 143 being pivoted, as shown in Figure 27, will ride beneath the cans already in position upon the an -le irons 143and the said cans may be held against displacement by means of flat tension springs 152 fastened to the angle irons 143 to engage the sides of the cans.

The cans, upon leaving the chutes 90, are held at the rear end of the can filling machine by a retarding device, to be later more fully described.

At the end of the rearward movement of the can conveyor rack 144, the rearmost conveyor pawl will move under and beyond the next succeeding can which has just been received from the chute 98, and is to be moved forward to be subsequently filled.

Upon the further operation of the machine the measuring cylinder 108 will move upward with its contents toward the discharge position and at the same time the rack gear 138 will cause the can conveyor rack 144 to move forwardly. The empty can which is disposed in alignment with the measuring cylinder 168 will be filled during the next step in the operation of the machine, and upon comple ion of the upstroke, the filled can will be moved forward to the delivery position and a new can moved into filling position and held therein by means of the tension springs 152, suitably placed upon the angle irons 143.

Thus it may be seen that the upstroke of the machine will cause the filling of an empty can, and the moving up of the succeeding can to replace the filled can upon the delivery of the filled can beyond the machine.

In order to prevent the piling up of empty cans at the lower open end of the feeding chute 90 and the rear end of the can conveyor rack 144, a suitable retarding means has been provided in order to retard the feeding of the oncoming cans until the can next to be fed forward toward the filling position has been freed from the retarding device.

To this end, I have provided to one side of the can conveyor rack 1 4. adjacent the chute 96, a pivoted arm member 153 supported by bracket 154, and having one free end in contact with the can next to be fed forward, and by reason of this contact, the opposite free end of the arm 153 is held in the path of the succeeding can to retard its forward movement. When the can conveyor rack moves rearwardly until. the conveyor pawls engage the can C, the releasing of the can C will allow the arm 153 to be swung upon its pivot so that the retarding portion 154 may be drawn outwardly by spring 155 to release the can C.

Thus it may be seen that a novel retarding device has been provided to control the movement of the cans from the chute 90 onto the can conveyor rack 144 and to allow the release of the cans continuously and in regular order.

During the normal operation of the can filling machine, a continuous supply of cans is fed i'orward into filling position; but should the supply of cans be exhausted, it is then desired to provide a safety switch mechanism which will terminate the operation of the machine until additional cans are fed into the can chute 90.

To this end, I have provided an automatic switch means pivoted to the can conveyor rack 14.4, having its upper end normally extending into the path of the on-coming can and its lower end provided with a roller 156 adapted to be normally held out of engagement with the switch plate 157 by reason of the on-coming can forcing the upper end of the switch member to be swung upon its pivot. The switch plate 157 is connected by means of a link 158 to a pivoted contact plate 159 which, in the position shown in Figure 29, closes a circuit in order to insure continuous operation of the filling machine so long as the supply of cans is provided.

Should the supply of cans be interrupted the switch member 155 will assume its normal upright position, and the roller 156 will depress the plate 157, overcoming the spring 160 and breaking the contact at 161 in order to stop the filling when the supply of cans has been exedge 16 adapted to engage the outer surface of Line e in order to insure that alevel amount of o; sters will be deposited from the measuring cylinder. The rotation of the measuring cylinder 186 will cause the leveling surface 164 to clear upper edge of the cylinder and the central conical portion will serve to prevent the usual mound that occurs at the center of the cylinder.

A modified form of construction similar to shown in Figures 8, 22 and 23 has been provided to eifect the opening and closing of the closure gate 121 at the lower end of the measuring cylinder 108. A bracket 165 is fixed to the lower member 100 and extends toward the ndard 93, and midway therebetween provides for a closure device 166.

The closure device 166 is connected at one end to a short arm 167 fixedly secured to the hinge 122 of the closure gate 121, and having at its opposite end a roller 168 adapted to normany ride upon the surface 93' of the standard 93. Tension springs 169 are provided upon opposite sides of the bearing portions of the arm 165. Upon the upward stroke of the measuring cy lnder, the roller 168 rides upon the surface 93, and at the point where it is desired to open the ciosure gate 121, the roller 168 rides up on a cam plate 170, and by reason of its connection to arm 167, causes the hinge 122 to rock and momentarily open the closure gate 121 to allow the discharge of oysters.

The feeding mechanism 42 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is identical in construction and operation with the can filling machine, with the exception of a ratchet drive 171 for a purpose to be now described.

When the condition shown in Figure 32 is desired to be corrected, it is necessary to turn the shaft 56, and in order to prevent this motion from being transmitted to the feeding mechanism 12, the ratchet drive 171, identical in construction with the parts 71, 72 and 73, as shown in Figure 33, is provided. The feeding mechanism is timed in unison with the can filling mechanism, so that the same amount'of oysters which is released from the feeding mechanism may also be released from the can feeding mechanism.

From the foregoing description, it may readily be seen that I have provided a novel, pract.cai and efiicient system of handling oysters from the time are shucked until they are deposited into the cans, and suitable safety means have also been provided to insure the continuous operation of the various units so long as a supply of oysters and containers is available; and 1 have further provided means to insure a standard measure of oysters at all times.

Changes in the size, shape and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims:

1. An oyster packing apparatus comprising a washer, drainer and container filler, means for conveying oysters from said Washer to said filler and for controlling the amount of oysters fed into the said container filler.

2. An oyster packing apparatus comprising a washer, drainer and container filler, means for conveying oysters from said washer to said filler and for controlling the amount of oysters fed into the said container filler, said means controlling the amount of oysters fed into said filler located on said washer.

3. An oyster packing apparatus comprising washer, drainer and container filler, means for conveying oysters through said washer and drainer into said filler, a discharge head in said drainer, auxiliary means in connection with the said discharge head for insuring the discharge of said oysters should the said means for conveying the oysters cease to function.

l. An oyster packing apparatus comprising washer, drainer and container filler, means ror conveying oysters through said washer and drainer into said filler, a discharge head in said drainer, auxiliary means in connection with the said discharge head for insuring the discharge of said oysters should the said means for conveying the oysters cease to function including on overriding clutch a cam operated switch and a motor geared to said clutch.

5. An oyster packing apparatus comprising a washer, drainer and container filler, means for conveying oysters from said washer to said filler and for controlling the amount of oysters fed into the said container filler, and means for measuring the amount of oysters fed into said washer.

6. An oyster packing apparatus comprising a washer, drainer and container filler, means for controlling the amount of oysters fed into said washer, means for conveying oysters from said washer to said filler, means for measuring the amount of oysters to be dispensed from said container filler, means for indicating an insufficient or overage of oysters in the apparatus.

7. A filling and measuring apparatus comprising a frame, a hopper mounted on said frame, a measuring container slidably mounted in said frame, means for raising and revolving said container into said hopper, and means for dispenshig the contents of said measuring container at a predetermined position.

8. A filling and measuring apparatus comprising a frame, a hopper mounted on said frame, a measuring container slidably mounted in said frame, means for raising said container into said hopper, means for removing the surplus contents of said container, and other means for dispensing the contents of said container at a predetermined position.

9. A filling and measuring apparatus comprising a frame, a hopper mounted on said frame, a measuring container slidably mounted in said frame, means for raising and lowering said container through the contents of said hopper, means for dispensing the contents of said container before the container is lowered, means for returning said dispensing means to a closed position, and means for indicating an insufiiciency or overage of the product to be measured and dispensed.

10. A filling and measuring apparatus comprising a frame, a hopper mounted on said frame, a measuring container slidably mounted in said frame, means for raising and lowering and revolving said container through and above the contents of said hopper, a gate hingedly connected to the bottom of said container, means for opening said gate at a predetermined position after the container has been filled, and means for closing said gate during the downward movement of said container.

11. A filling and measuring apparatus comprising a frame, a hopper mounted on said frame, a measuring container slidably mounted in said frame, means for raising and lowering and revolving said container through and above the contents of said hopper, a gate hingedly connected to the bottom of said container, means for securing said gate against opening during the first part of the raising operation, means for opening said gate at a predetermined position after the container has been filled, and means for closing said gate during the downward movement of said container.

12. A filling and measuring apparatus comprising a frame, a hopper mounted on said frame, a measuring container slidably mounted in said frame, a conveyor beneath said measuring container adapted to carry receiving containers thereon, means for reciprocally moving said conveyor, and means for raising and lowering said measuring container in said frame, a common means connecting the reciprocal means with the means for raising and lowering said measuring container, means for holding said receiving containers on said conveyor at the end of each advancement thereof, and means for stopping the filling and feeding operation upon the exhaus ing of the receiving containers on the conveyor.

13. A filling and measuring apparatus comprising a frame, a hopper and a measuring container, one of which elements is slidably mounted with respect to said frame, means for revolving said container within said hopper, and means for dispensing the contents of said measuring container.

14. A filling and measuring apparatus comprising a hopper and a measuring container within said hopper, said hopper and measuring container being relatively reciprocable to bring the top of said measuring container alternately above and below the level of a fluid body within said hopper, means for removing surplus contents from said container while it is above said fluid level, and means for dispensing the contents of said container.

15. A filling and measuring apparatus comprising a hopper and a measuring container within said hopper, said hopper and measuring container being relatively reciprocable to bring the top of said measuring container alternately above and below the level of the fluid body within said hopper, means for removing surplus contents from said container while it is above said fluid level, and means for producing relative revoluble movement between said measuring container and said surplus contents removing means.

EDWARD T. MCNANEY. 

